Arnstein, who sometimes runs over 200 miles in a week, says he often devours 30 pounds of fruit a day. It’s not uncommon for him to eat 30 oranges, 5 cantaloupes, 1 watermelon, and 40-50 bananas in one day.

Is Fruitarianism New?

The fruitarian diet is not technically new. It has been around for hundreds of years — probably longer. In his writings, artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci indicated he was a Fruitarian.

To most Fruitarians, the diet is simply a natural progression — from omnivore to vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, and finally Fruitarian.

To some it is the chosen diet for health reasons. Others follow it because they believe humans were always destined to eat fruit — starting from the Garden of Eden.

Fruitarians believe cooked food is an unnatural human creation and is toxic to the body. They eat 100% raw food as close as possible to its natural state. The Fruitarian says it is never possible to improve upon nature, and when our diet is in harmony with nature, our health excels and our consciousness expands.

Arnstein’s training diet includes eating up to 6,000 calories daily. He maintains 3-5% body fat, and says he rarely if ever gets sick or injured — all of which he attributes to his Fruitarian diet plan.

Do your own investigation and research to determine if the Fruitarian diet plan is something you are interested in trying as an endurance athlete.

Benefits Of Incorporating More Fruit In Your Diet

Fruitarian or not, there is tremendous value to incorporating fruit into your training diet.

There’s a reason why you see bananas and orange slices at marathon aid stations – they supply important nutrients to the body.

Here are some fruits that have a huge upside for ultra-runners:

Cherries – Cherries are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruit and provide a wide range of health benefits, as well as performance and recovery benefits for athletes. Research shows that runners who consume cherry juice, twice a day for 7 days a week, had strikingly less muscle pain following a long distance run. The post-exercise benefits are noteworthy because of the fruit’s natural anti-inflammatory components. A recent study from the University of Michigan shows that a cherry enriched diet lowered total weight, body fat and inflammation, all associated with heart disease.

Bananas – Bananas are one of the best pre- and post-workout snacks. It’s no surprise that they seem to be included in every post-race goodie bag. Loaded with potassium and Vitamin B6, bananas help maintain low blood sugar, regulate digestion and re-stock your body with lost electrolytes after any sort of physical exertion. Vitamin B6 in bananas acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that helps ward of cardiovascular disease.

Oranges – In addition to providing ample potassium, are optimum sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps reduce inflammation and helps your body absorb iron from plant-based foods — like beans and lentils. This is important because athletes, particularly female athletes, are prone to iron deficiencies. Because oranges and orange juice also provide plentiful amounts of carbohydrates and water, they can lower your risk for fatigue and dehydration after intense exercise.

Raisins – Many athletes rely on glucose supplements before events for boosted energy and performance. In a study published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Resistance,” 8 endurance athletes consumed a sports gel supplement or raisins containing the same amount of carbohydrates 45 minutes before exercise. Researchers found that the raisins provided the same performance benefits as the sport gel. Raisins are also less expensive than glucose gels and provide significant amounts of other valuable nutrients — including potassium, iron, and fiber.

It wasn’t too long ago that I was exploring the idea of doing my first Triathlon. If I can do it, you can too! I’m over 40 years old, but I don’t give up easily. Lately, I’ve been focusing on ultra endurance competitions such as 50+-mile running. I’m proof that with a little determination and training, you can get a great deal of fulfillment participating in marathons, triathlons, even ultramarathons.

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